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Description   Eco Sailing Expeditions

Description of Activity/Tour

Our Vessel
We are proud to welcome you aboard the WANDERBIRD. This vessel is the culmination of our over forty years combined experience as professional mariners. We invite you to join us aboard this extraordinary vessel. We have drawn from our experience of carrying passengers on a traditional rigged sailing ship to create a custom design for your safety and comfort. WANDERBIRD is a combination of several elements: a traditional ketch auxillary sailing rig, interiors with classic yacht design, a gourmet galley, the strength and integrity of a working fishing vessel and capabilities for off-shore adventure.



the galley

Amenities:
· Intimate Setting - 12 Passengers Aboard Our 90 Foot Vessel
· Varnished Woodwork in Galley, Library, Dining Area & Deck Salon
· Large Spacious Decks
· Spacious, Bright & Open Galley
· 6 Cosy and comfortable double cabins
· Private Head & Shower in Each Cabin
· Observation Deck & Teak Steamer Chairs
· Two Small Boats for Shore Side Adventures


the coach house
One of the favorite shipboard places for relaxation is the deck house. The deck house is completely protected from the weather, with lots of windows, beautiful varnished wood panels, a reading library, comfortable couches and even a traditional shipmate stove. At night, the salon is filled with lantern light, song and stories. Musical instruments are always welcome!

The below-deck salon is laid out in the typical style of a 19th century pilot schooner, with a warm comfortable wood interior. It was designed for educational films and natural history demonstrations, and can double as an informal classroom.

Shore-Side Adventures:
We carry two boats that take us on shore side adventures:
· Our stout 20' skiff with 75hp outboard engine
· Our favorite little row boat; a wooden classic

Our choice blend of old and new:
The WANDERBIRD is a traditional styled vessel with modern navigation & safety equipment. Our engine is used to take us on our planned course, and sails are supplementary. Modern equipment is used for whalesong recording and other safety/research purposes. But our loving restoration of the WANDERBIRD has retained the feeling of the old Dutch fishing vessel by using traditional materials wherever possible.

Her steel and wood construction combine the 20th-century's highest safety standards with the authenticity of classic 19th-century North Sea fishing vessel plus:

Navigation & Electronics:
2 VHF radios, 2 Radar Sets, Sailor Radio Equiptment 2 GPS, wind instruments, Satellite Communications, depth sounder, SSB Radio Telephone, compass, auto-pilot, weather fax, Furuno NavTex Receiver, computer, cellular phone.

Owner operated, Wanderbird meets or exceeds all safety requirements for her class of transportation, and Lloyd's specifications for vessels carrying passengers, Offshore First Aid Kit, Full Fire Detection & Fire Fighting Equipment, High Water Alarms, Coast Guard Approved Life Jackets, Coast Guard Approved Survival Suits, 2 Life Boats, 2 Bouyant Apparatus - 10 Person Capacity, 4 Inflatable Life Rafts - 46 Person Capacity, E.P.I.R.B., Oversize Life Rings, Rocket Propelled Line Launchers, Full Flare Kit, 6 water-tight compartments.

Typical Day

Our Special Interest Excursions in Maine and Points North:

Spring on the Bay
May 25-27
Our first trip of the season finds lovely Penobscot Bay practically deserted. The air is clear and crisp with summer life emerging in full view. This is a great time of the season as we all find ourselves pleased to be back on the water after a long snowy winter.


Island trail

Island Hiking Cruise
May 29-June 3, June 11-16
One of our most popular cruises! We spend extra time each day hiking on some of Penobscot Bay's most beautiful Islands and State Parks. The exertion level is up to you. Some of our favorite hiking locations are; quaint North Haven Village and the surrounding countryside, Holbrook Island Wildlife Preserve, Fort Point Seaside Trails and State Park, picturesque Swan's Island and Warren Island State Park.

Mothership Kayaking Cruise
June 18-23
Wanderbird Kayaking Mothership Cruise. We will take you to different scenic paddling locations aboard the Wanderbird. Each morning after a hearty and delicious breakfast we will launch the kayaks to travel as guided group to explore remote and beautiful area of the coast and islands that are not usually accessible from shore-based launching sites. We will pack a bag or meet on a beach for lunch, paddle for the afternoon and then meet back aboard the Wanderbird for hot showers, refreshment, a comfortable place to relax and unwind. You will be pampered with snacks and maybe some wine before sitting down to one of Karen's gourmet meals. Some paddling experience would be nice but all levels are welcome.



Typical captain's houses

Expedition Cruise from Port Aux Basques, Newfoundland to St John's Newfoundland
July 8-July19
This expedition along the Southern Coast of Newfoundland will bring us into deep and mighty fiords where the cliffs rise straight up hundreds of feet as we travel miles inland to our incredibly protected anchorages. We will also visit some of the few remaining outports that can only be reached by boat and meet some of the hardy folk who still fight for a living from the sea. We will plan to visit some of the offshore islands like Ramea or the french owned St. Pierre and Miquelon. Very few vesels travel here and the whales and seabirds are like no where else. This is a voyage of a lifetime!



Visit the wild and remote places


Expedition Cruise from St. Anthony, Newfoundland to Goose Bay Happy Valley, Labrador
July 27-August 5
(See below for some highlights of the region)

Expedition Cruise out of Goose Bay Happy Valley, Labrador
August 8-19
(Heading North along the coast - see below)

Expedition Cruise from Happy Valley, Goose Bay, Labrador to St. Anthony, Newfoundland
August 22-31
St. Anthony voyages may include a visit to the viking village, L'Anse Aux Meadows, the first European settlement in the new world. In this coastal region we find small fishing communities nestled around picturesque coves. Often icebergs can be seen near the headlands of these coves.

In Labrador, we experience one of the world's last great wilderness frontiers. Labrador is sparsely inhabited by descendants of Paleo Indians that thrived 9000 years ago, viking settlers, Basque whalers, and Moravian missionaries. The tundra is inhabited by caribou, moose, wolves, lynx, and Arctic hare. The icy waters are teeming with whales, seal, salmon, char and iceberg. The Labrador coast supports the greatest variety of seabirds on the planet. Join us as we explore fjords and outposts along this magnificent and dramatic coast!





Whales & Seabirds of the Gulf of Maine
September 10-September 15
The title says it all. These cruises offer a little bit of all the things we love here on the wonderful coast of Maine. We head East out to the offshore waters of the Gulf of Maine where we will have a great chance to see many varieties of whales, including the allusive and highly endangered North Atlantic Right Whale. The hydrophone will be deployed to give us a chance to listen to, as well as observe these gentle giants. We'll also look for Storm Petrel, Shearwater, Gannets and many other pelagic seabirds.


Small Island Fishing Port

Coastal Fishing Villages
September 17-September 22
Commercial Fishing here in Maine is rapidly becoming a thing of the past. Over fishing by large factory trawlers has drastically reduced the resource to its now critical level. The economies of these tiny villages are dependant on the fisheries. the village communities hang on... like the tough little spruce trees that cling to these barren, rocky islands. The Lobster fishery, however, is still strong and weÕll meet several colourful characters as we visit the island villages. We will invite some of the locals aboard Wanderbird for supper, stories and maybe just a wee bit of the old black rum. This is a fun trip!


Dining by Sunset

Wanderbird's Famous Wine Tasting Cruise
September 24-September 26
What better way to sample the local wines than form the decks of the Wanderbird? We will be working with the Winterport Winery to blend their local wines with our gourmet cuisine for a wonderful gastronomical treat as we voyage along our scenic coastline and explore island villages.


Seals & Pups


Vegetarian Cruises:
Vegetarian Cruise: June 6-9,
Vegans Afloat: September 27-September 29,
Fall Vegetarian Cruise: October 22-25
Veg News Magazine voted Wanderbird one of the 2005 Best Ten Vegetarian Travel Destinations is the World! Vegetarian Times referred to us in their Hot Tips for Vegetarian Travel! Karen has been a practicing vegetarian for over twenty years and invites you to come aboard on one of our scheduled veggie trips for delicious, healthy and beautiful cuisine, where the eclectic meals are prepared especially for you! More on vegetarian cruises...
(Vegetarians and vegans are also welcome on any regularly scheduled cruise- please check off your preferences in the registration form so we can plan our menus!)


Humpback Sounds...

Coastal Islands, Whales, Seals and Seabirds
October 1-6
The title says it all. These cruises offer a little bit of all the things we love here on the wonderful coast of Maine. We head East out to the offshore waters of Mt. Desert Rocks where we will have a great chance to see many varieties of whales as they spend the late summer and fall feeding in our local waters. The hydrophone will be deployed to give us a chance to listen to, as well as observe these gentle giants. We'll also look for Storm Petrel, Shearwater, Gannets and many other pelagic seabirds.


Pumpkin Island Light


Lighthouses of The Maine Coast
October 8-13
Come aboard as we set a course for the lighthouses of Penobscot Bay and beyond. Each one is beautiful and unique with interesting history and even some spooky legends! Aboard the Wanderbird, we will have the special opportunity to view some of the very remote offshore lighthouses such a Mt. Desert Rock, Matinicus Light, Isle Au Haut, or Monhegan Light. Other lighthouses we are likely to see are: Owl's Head, Whitehead, Pumpkin Island, Dice's Head, Grindle Point, Hockamock Head, Indian Island and many more. We'll spend time ashore, as well, where we can actually visit and explore Maine Lighthouses.


Carve a pumpkin!

Fabulous Fall Colors Cruise
October 15-20
You've never seen the foliage like this before. Look across the decks toward the mainland for colours that go on as far as you can see. Northern Lights often grace our skies on these late season trips, and warm up with Karen's seasonal favourites from the galley!



Bring your instruments!


Old Salts' Winter Voyage
October 26-October 28
It's back... you know who you are. We've had numerous requests to bring back this old Timberwind Classic... Join us to celebrate the close of another season, with one last weekend of crisp clear days and mulled cider on the wood stove! (And... yes, to our regular Old Salts who requested it; we'll serve Beef & Stilton Pies!)



Educational Charters Welcome - Family Charters Welcome

Age range, type of group

Ecology Adventures
Rick and Karen are both from seafaring and fishing backgrounds, and feel strongly connected to the ecology of the Maine coast and Grand Banks. We are both active conservationists and hope to support conservation through low-impact tourism, research, education and awareness. Our Eco-tourism cruises reflect our great reverence for the natural world and its creatures. Our cruises will follow the migrational paths of whales and seabirds along the north eastern seaboard. We will explore coastal villages and islands along the way. Our cruises could find the vessel anywhere between the Stellwagen Bank off Gloucester, Massachusetts and the coast of Newfoundland or Labrador (see map).


To offer you a true natural history eco-tourism experience, we combine informal education and interactive wildlife research projects, with an on-board library and instruments. Here are some of the activities you may experience:
· Whale watching and logging whale sightings and positions
· Bird counts and logging
· Wildlife photography
· Listening to and recording whale sounds

We share the wildlife information we gather with several conservation and research organizations. All projects are conducted with the well-being of the wildlife and environment as our primary consideration.



OUR CODE OF ETHICS:
· Lowest possible impact on the environment.
· Guaranteed personal attention.
· To support research through tourism.
· Treat all life forms with love and respect.


We love animals: Pilot & Maggie, our two black labs, are super friendly seafarers and sail with us on every cruise! They asked us to remind you that a portion of our proceeds are donated to local animal shelters and local wildlife rehabilitation facilities!



Puffins

Restrictions

Great Food
Our breads and pastries are homemade from scratch & baked fresh daily. All of our meals are prepared with fresh natural ingredients (some from our own gardens). Our goal is to present delicious, healthy, high quality cuisine and all meals are served with a heaping helping of down home hospitality!


Vegetarians Always Welcome!
See our Vegetarians Page with sample menus.
We Can Accommodate Special Diets with Advance Notice:
"I enjoy accommodating the vegetarian palate, and will be glad to prepare special menus if you have a food allergy- Please let us know your needs when booking your cruise.
Thank you!"
- Karen


Anticipation is the first course of every delicious meal. We hope you will enjoy reading about some of our favorite meals served aboard Wanderbird...

A Few Of Our Evening Meals - Served At Anchor
In A Quiet Cove


Roast Pork Loin


Appetizer: Creamy Mushroom Soup
Beef & Stilton Pie
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Glazed Baby Carrots with Tarragon
Hot French Bread
Sponge Cakes Layered with Fresh Strawberries and Cream
Coffee and Tea

Appetizer: Focaccia and Infused Olive Oils for Dipping
Salad Niscoise
Hand Made Raviolis Stuffed with Maple Roasted Squash
& Sautéed in Fresh Basil, Walnut Oil & Pinenuts
Karen's Favorite Chocolate Mousse Cake
Coffee and Tea

Appetizer: Maine Mussels Steamed in Wine Sauce
Wanderbird House Salad of Mixed Greens Topped with Mushrooms, Red Onion, Mandarin Oranges, Sliced Almonds with 'Our Own' Honey Mustard Dressing
Chicken Picatta
Jasmine Rice
Steamed Broccoli
Home Made Yeast Rolls & Honey Butter
Lemon & Berry Tart with Hand Cranked
Black Raspberry Ice Cream
Coffee and Tea


Dessert & a Treat from Winterport Winery


Appetizer: Fresh Fruit & Baked Brie Cheese
Rolled Stuffed Pork Loin l'Orange
Rosemary Onion Wheat Rolls & Honey Butter
Maple Roast Acorn Squash Halves with Peas
Fresh Cranberry Sauce
Peach Cobbler with Fresh Whipped Cream
Coffee and Tea


Just a Few of Our Lunches:


Sweet Potato Soup & Salad Niscoise

Creamy Carrot Ginger Soup,
Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing,
Rosemary Onion Wheat Rolls

Focaccia Bread Sandwiches with Smoked Turkey, Camembert,
Lettuce, Tomato, Mayo & Cranberry Relish

Hearty Maritime Fish Chowder in a Bread Bowl

Made to Order Mediterranean Pizzas & Sicilian Salad

French Tarragon Chicken Salad with Swiss Cheese &
Lettuce on Crusty Baguette Bread


Hot Out of the Oven Bread


Seafood chowder served on deck



A Few of Our Cookies:

Coconut Macaroons
Chocolate Espresso Brownies
Oatmeal, Dried Cranberry, White Chocolate Chip
Snickerdoodles
Chewy Molasses Ginger Cookies
Shortbread
Almond Biscotti Dipped in Chocolate
Strawberry Jam Filled Ginger Bread Hearts
Russian Tea Cakes


Breakfast Aboard WANDERBIRD:


Quiche & Almond Poppyseed Scones


Orange Juice
Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes
Maple Breakfast Sausage
Coffee and Tea
Basket of Fresh Fruit

Orange Juice
Home Made Granola
Fresh Sliced Fruit Toppings
Milk & Yogurt
Home Made Cranberry Orange Scones
Coffee and Tea
Basket of Fresh Fruit


Sunnyside Up Apricot Pastries


Orange Juice
Fresh Omelets Made To Order
'Hot From The Oven' Lemon Poppyseed Muffins
Coffee and Tea
Basket of Fresh Fruit

Rates

Smoking Permitted in special deck area

Reviews & Comments  Eco Sailing Expeditions

Listing Address

Listing Name & Address
Eco Sailing Expeditions
Wanderbird Expedition Cruises
POB 272
Belfast, Maine 04915
United States

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